Assertions about ALEC’s origin and funding[edit]
In 2012, Walter Mondale, former Democratic Vice President of the United States, and Arne Carlson, former Republican governor of Minnesota, referred in an op-ed piece to the political activities of the Koch family and ALEC, saying:

“[ALEC] is the creation of the Koch brothers who amassed their

fortunes in oil and who live in Florida. The goal of ALEC is to influence legislators across the nation.”[70]

1638. Act X. All persons except Negroes are to be provided with arms and ammunition or be fined at the pleasure of the governor and council.

Whereas the frequent meetings of considerable numbers of Negro slaves under pretense of feasts and burials is judged of dangerous consequence,

Whereas the act of 1680 on Negro insurrections has not had the intended effect, it is enacted that church wardens read this and the other act, twice every year, in the time of divine service,

An act for suppressing outlying slaves covering divers subjects, states whereas many times Negroes, mulattoes and other slaves lie hid and lurk in obscure places killing hogs and committing other injuries,

Whereas a Negro slave named Will, belonging to Robt. Ruffin, of the County of Surry, was signally serviceable in discovering a conspiracy of Negroes for levying war in this colony; for reward of his fidelity, it is enacted that the said Will is and forever

Whereas the laws now in force for the better governing of slaves are found insufficient to restrain their unlawful and tumultuous meetings, it is enacted that if any number of Negroes exceeding five conspire to rebel, they shall suffer death,

The conspiracy of slaves or their insurrection is a felony and the penalty death without benefit of clergy. It is repeated that incorrigible slaves going abroad at night may be dismembered by court order and if they die no forfeiture nor punishment shall be incurred.

and but utterly excluded the benefit of clergy. It is reenacted that if slaves are found notoriously guilty of going abroad at night or running away and lying out and cannot be reclaimed from such disorderly discourses, it shall be lawful to direct every such slave to be punished by dismemberment, or any other way not touching life.

hereafter shall be free and shall continue to be within this colony, if he think fit to continue. The sum of forty pounds sterling shall be paid the said Robt. Ruffin for the price of Will.

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.[1]

hereafter shall be free and shall continue to be within this colony, if he think fit to continue. The sum of forty pounds sterling shall be paid the said Robt. Ruffin for the price of Will.

Corrections Corporation of America and The GEO Group, two of the largest for-profit prison companies in the US, have been contributors to the American Legislative Exchange Council. Under their Criminal Justice Task Force, ALEC has developed bills which State legislators can then consult when proposing “tough on crime” initiatives including “Truth in Sentencing” and “Three Strikes” laws. Critics argue that by funding and participating in ALEC’s Criminal Justice Task Forces, private prison companies directly influence legislation for tougher, longer sentences.[38] ALEC has also worked to pass state laws to create for-profit prisons, which served as a boon to both of the aforementioned contributors.[39][40] #UNITEBLUE

Divided we fall

ALEC first came into being in Chicago as the “Conservative Caucus of State Legislators”, a project initiated by Mark Rhoads, an assistant to an Illinois state senator.[15][16] Conservative legislators felt the word “conservative” was unpopular with the public at the time, however, and the organization was renamed as the American Legislative Exchange Council.[16] In 1975, under the auspices of the American Conservative Union, ALEC registered as a federal non-profit agency.[17][18]

ALEC has produced model policy on issues such as reducing corporate regulation and taxation, tightening voter identification rules, digital due process[9] streamlining or minimizing environmental protections, over-criminalization[10][11] and promoting gun rights.[8][12][13] ALEC also serves as a networking tool among state legislators, allowing them to research the handling and “best practices” of policy in other states.[13]

Major private prison corporation are in the news, and not for the right reasons.

· The Corrections Corporation of America, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of America’s largest private prison contractors. As of the end of 2012, CCA owned and operated 47 different private prisons across the country, and has management contracts at 20 others. The company is very successful: its 2011 financial statements showed it with revenues approaching $1.75 billion. Occupancy requirements were between 80 percent and 100 percent, with many around 90 percent. The highest bed guarantee requirements were from Arizona, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Virginia. As mentioned above, Arizona has three contracts that contain 100 percent occupancy guarantee clauses. Oklahoma has three contracts with a 98 percent occupancy guarantee provision, while a couple of Louisiana’s contracts contain occupancy requirements at 96 percent, and Virginia has one at 95 percent. Privatized prisons are failing the public interest